System and method for managing information and collaborating

• US 7,512,655 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ferrari, Enrico, Zaret, David, Armstrong, Brawnski, Lawlor, Graham, Kristoff, Eric J., Seymour, Robert, O'Donnell, Pat, Schonberg, Dave, Radulovic, Adam, Sinclair, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US09/881,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,847 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-206, 715/751
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

Disclosed is an information management and collaboration system and method for managing information flow in real time. A real time chat communication channel provides a link for users to interact in a customized setting. Users are provided with such customizable features as contextual transcripts, parameterized input and output panels, channel management, contact management and application interaction. The system and method disclosed allows information to be managed in a customized environment based on user preferences. Further, the system and method disclosed provide a highly configurable environment for interaction with other information and collaboration systems, as well as other utility application programs.

Claims

1. A system for structuring content within a message and transmitting the structured message over a computer network in a real time chat environment, the system comprising:

a system administration computing system comprising;

a system management program operative to provide a real time chat interface for enabling a plurality of users to communicate with one another in a plurality of different real time chat channels over the computer network, and

a channel manager configured to allow an end user to manage the plurality of real time chat channels, wherein the channel manager configured to allow the end user to manage the plurality of real time chat channels comprises the channel manager being configured to allow the end user to;

review the plurality of real time chat channels,

create additional real time chat channels, and

create a filtered channel, wherein the filtered channel comprises an aggregation of selected real time chat channels, the selected real time chat channels being selected by the end user according to at least one of the following;

content associated with the plurality of real time chat channels,

at least one user name associated with the plurality of real time chat channels, and

previously stored criteria comprising at least one of the following;

a specified content and at least one specified user name, wherein the previously stored criteria is used to monitor the plurality of real time chat channels and provide information associated with the stored criteria; and

a second computing system having a network interface program for communicating with the real time chat interface, wherein the network interface program accepts message content comprising text and other content entered by one of the plurality of users, establishes the real time chat interface with the system management program, interacts with the system management program to structure the content within the message, and transmits the structured message over at least one of the channels of the computer network, wherein the system management program structures the message content in a specific format based on fields associated with the message content.

2. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein the second computing system is an end user computing system and the network interface program is an end user interface program.

3. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 2, wherein the end user interface program, based on configuration instructions, generates a structured message content input panel having message content fields for the end user to enter message content into.

4. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 3, wherein:

after message content to be structured is entered into the structure input panel message content fields, the end user interface program structures the message content for transmission over the computer network.

5. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 4, wherein data specific to the end user creating the message is associated with the structured message content for message creation identification purposes.

6. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 3, wherein the message content fields are generated dynamically based on the configuration instructions and data specific to the end user.

7. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 6, wherein the specific end user data used to dynamically generate the message content fields is an end user identification code.

8. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 6, wherein the specific end user data used to dynamically generate the message content fields is an end user location identifier.

9. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 6, wherein the specific end user data used to dynamically generate the message content fields is an identifier for the end user computing system.

10. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 2, wherein the end user interface program, upon receipt of a structured message, generates a structured message output panel to display the structured message content.

11. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein the at least one real time chat channel is a forum channel.

12. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein the at least one real time chat channel is a private channel.

13. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein the filtered channel is used to post a message to multiple channels.

14. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein the end user interface program allows at least one of the plurality of real time chat channels to be docked to the user interface.

15. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein the end user interface program allows at least one of the plurality of real time chat channels to be undocked from the user interface.

16. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein the end user interface program generates at least one user interface message alert for at least one of the real time chat channels.

17. The message content structuring and transmission of claim 16, wherein the at least one interface message alert is visual.

18. The message content structuring and transmission of claim 16, wherein the at least one interface message alert is audio.

19. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the real time chat channels includes at least one contextual chat message.

20. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein the system management program converts synchronous message content to asynchronous message content for storage.

21. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a third computing system having a network interface program with a real time chat interface for communicating over the computer network.

22. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 21, wherein the second computing system transmits structured messages directly to the third computing system.

23. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 1, wherein the second computing system is an application computing system having an application program and the network interface program is a network application management program.

24. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 23, wherein the structured message sent to the network by the application program is a notification message.

25. A system for structuring content within a message and transmitting the structured message over a computer network in a real time chat environment, the system comprising:

first means operative to provide a real time chat interface for enabling a plurality of users to communicate with one another in a plurality of different real time chat channels over the computer network;

second means for communicating with the real time chat interface, wherein the second means for communicating with the real time chat interface accepts message content comprising text and other content entered by one of the plurality of users, establishes the real time chat interface with the first means for communicating, interacts with the first means to structure the content within the message, and transmits the structured message over at least one of the channels of the computer network, wherein the second means structures the message content in a specific format based on fields associated with the message content; and

third means having a channel manager configured to allow at least one of the plurality of users to manage the plurality of different real time chat channels, wherein the channel manager configured to allow the at least one of the plurality of users to manage the plurality of different real time chat channels comprises the channel manager being configured to allow the at least one of the plurality of users to;

review the plurality of real time chat channels,

create additional real time chat channels, and

create a filtered channel, wherein the filtered channel comprises an aggregation of selected real time chat channels, the selected real time chat channels being selected by the end user according to at least one of the following;

content associated with the plurality of real time chat channels,

at least one user name associated with the plurality of real time chat channels, and

previously stored criteria comprising at least one of the following;

a specified content and at least one specified user name, wherein the previously stored criteria is used to monitor the plurality of real time chat channels and provide information associated with the stored criteria.

26. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein the second means, based on configuration instructions, generates a structured message content input panel having message content fields for the end user to enter message content into.

27. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 26, wherein the message content fields are generated dynamically based on the configuration instructions and data specific to the end user.

28. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 27, wherein the specific end user data used to dynamically generate the message content fields is an end user identification code.

29. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 27, wherein the specific end user data used to dynamically generate the message content fields is an end user location identifier.

30. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 27, wherein the specific end user data used to dynamically generate the message content fields is an identifier for the end user computer system.

31. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 26, wherein:

after message content to be structured is entered into the structured input panel message content fields, the second means structures the message content for transmission over the computer network.

32. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 31, wherein data specific to the end user creating the message is associated with the structured message content for message creation identification purposes.

33. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the real time chat channels is a forum channel.

34. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the real time chat channels is a private channel.

35. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein the filtered channel is used to post a message to multiple channels.

36. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein the second means allows at least one of the real time chat channel to be docked to the user interface.

37. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein the second means allows at least one of real time chat channel to be undocked to the user interface.

38. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein the second means generates at least one user interface message alert of a real time chat channel.

39. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 38, wherein the at least one interface message alert is visual.

40. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 38, wherein the at least one interface message alert is audio.

41. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the real time chat channel includes at least one contextual chat message.

42. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein the first means converts synchronous message content to asynchronous message content for storage.

43. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, wherein the second means, upon receipt of a structured message, generates a structured message output panel to display the structured message content.

44. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 25, further comprising a third means having a real time chat interface for communicating over the computer network.

45. The message content structuring and transmission system of claim 44, wherein the second means transmits structured messages directly to the third means.

46. The method for structuring message content and transmitting the structured message content over a computer network in a real time chat environment, the method comprising:

providing a system administration computing system having a system management program with a real time chat interface for enabling a plurality of users to communicate with one another in a plurality of different real time chat channels over the computer network;

providing a channel manager configured to allow at least one of the plurality of users to manage the plurality of different real time chat channels, wherein the channel manager configured to allow the at least one plurality of end users to manage the plurality of different real time chat channels comprises the channel manager being configured to allow the at least one of the plurality of end users to;

review the plurality of real time chat channels,

create additional real time chat channels, and

create a filtered channel, wherein the filtered channel comprises an aggregation of selected real time chat channels, the selected real time chat channels being selected by the end user according to at least one of the following;

content associated with the plurality of real time chat channels,

at least one user name associated with the plurality of real time chat channels, and

previously stored criteria comprising at least one of the following;

a specified content and at least one specified user name, wherein the previously stored criteria is used to monitor the plurality of real time chat channels and provide information associated with the stored criteria;

providing the message content to the computer network, wherein the message content comprises text and other content entered by one of the plurality of users;

structuring the message content within a message in a specific format based on fields associated with the message content;

establishing the real time chat interface with the system administration computing system; and

transmitting the structured message to the system management program.

47. The message content structuring and transmission method of claim 46, further comprising generating a structured message content input panel having message content fields for acceptance of message content.

48. The message content structuring and transmission method of claim 46, further comprising generating a user interface, wherein the at least one real time chat channel includes at least one contextual chat message.

49. The message content structuring and transmission method of claim 48, further comprising docking the at least one real time chat channel to the user interface.

50. The message content structuring and transmission method of claim 48, further comprising undocking the at least one real time chat channel to the user interface.

51. The message content structuring and transmission method of claim 48, further comprising generating at least one user interface message alert for at least one real time chat channel.

52. The message content structuring and transmission method of claim 46, further comprising converting synchronous message content to asynchronous message content for storage.

53. The message content structuring and transmission method of claim 46, further comprising generating a structured message output panel to display received structured message content.

54. The method for structuring message content and transmitting the structured message content over a computer network in a real time chat environment, the method comprising:

providing a system administration computing system having a system management program with a real time chat interface for enabling a plurality of users to communicate with one another in a plurality of different real time chat channels over the computer network;

providing the message content to the computer network, wherein the message content comprises text and other content entered by one of the plurality of users;

providing a channel manager configured to allow at least one of the plurality of users to manage the plurality of different real time chat channels, wherein the channel manager configured to allow the at least one plurality of end users to manage the plurality of different real time chat channels comprises the channel manager being configured to allow the at least one of the plurality of end users to;

review the plurality of real time chat channels,

create additional real time chat channels, and

create a filtered channel, wherein the filtered channel comprises an aggregation of selected real time chat channels, the selected real time chat channels being selected by the end user according to at least one of the following;

content associated with the plurality of real time chat channels,

at least one user name associated with the plurality of real time chat channels, and

previously stored criteria comprising at least one of the following;

a specified content and at least one specified user name, wherein the previously stored criteria is used to monitor the plurality of real time chat channels and provide information associated with the stored criteria;

establishing a real time chat interface with the system administration computing system; and

transmitting the message content to the system management program using at least one of the real time chat channels, wherein the system management program structures the message content in a specific format based on fields associated with the message content.

55. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for structuring message content for transmission over a computer network in a real time chat environment, the method executed by the instructions comprising:

establishing a real time chat interface with the computer network over at least one of a plurality of real time chat channels;

establishing a channel manager configured to allow an end user to manage a plurality of real time chat channels, wherein the channel manager configured to allow the end user to manage the plurality of real time chat channels comprises the channel manager being configured to allow the end user to;

review the plurality of real time chat channels,

create additional real time chat channels, and

create a filtered channel, wherein the filtered channel comprises an aggregation of selected real time chat channels and is operative to transmit the message content to the aggregated real time chat channels, the selected real time chat channels being selected by the end user according to at least one of the following;

content associated with the plurality of real time chat channels,

at least one user name associated with the plurality of real time chat channels, and

previously stored criteria comprising at least one of the following;

a specified content and at least one specified user name, wherein the previously stored criteria is used to monitor the plurality of real time chat channels and provide information associated with the stored criteria;

generating a structured message content input panel having message content fields for acceptance of message content comprising text and other content;

receiving the message content from within the computer network;

structuring the message content in a specific format based on message content fields associated with the message content; and

transmitting the structured message content over at least one of the plurality of real time chat channels in the computer network.

56. The method executed by the computer-executable instructions of claim 55, further comprising generating a user interface, wherein the at least one real time chat channel includes at least one contextual chat message.

57. The method executed by the computer-executable instructions of claim 56, further comprising docking the real time chat channel to the user interface.

58. The method executed by the computer-executable instructions of claim 56, further comprising undocking the real time chat channel to the user interface.

59. The method executed by the computer-executable instructions of claim 56, further comprising generating at least one user interface message alert for a real time chat channel.

60. The method executed by the computer-executable instructions of claim 55, further comprising converting synchronous message content to asynchronous message content for storage.

61. The method executed by the computer-executable instructions of claim 55, further comprising generating a structured message output panel to display received structured message content.